Man claimed a baby had been thrown into the River Thames

A 48-year-old man has been given an adult caution after he made false reports of a child being thrown into the River Thames.

Burghfield Bridge was closed for three hours on Thursday as Thames Valley Police (TVP), firefighters from Dee Road fire station and a police helicopter trawled the river for a body.

Police were alerted to the incident in Burghfield Road following reports of a man acting suspiciously and talking to people about a dead child who was thrown from the bridge and into the river at around 5.40pm.

Driver Linda Fort, who was caught in the ensuing traffic jam, said: “I was driving south along Burghfield Road at around 6.15pm when traffic came to a halt.

“The lights were held at red – presumably on both sides of the bridge over the Kennet and Avon Canal – and after a bit police cars started rolling up.”

She continued: “Police officers on foot started to arrive. The road was obviously closed behind us as cars stopped coming down Burghfield Road.

“Finally after over an hour a police officer came down the queue taking our registration numbers and telling us he would explain on the way back.

“He didn’t explain but said there had been an incident and there were concerns about someone’s safety.”

Police spokesman David Paull confirmed motorists’ licence plates were checked as it was unclear to TVP whether the man drove to the area or arrived on foot.

The bridge was reopened at 9.40pm once police established the man’s claims were unfounded and he was later given an adult caution.